Friday, May 01, 2015

Indonesian envoy defends execution of four Nigerians


The execution of four Nigerians and other nationals on Tuesday by the Indonesia government followed due process, its ambassador to Nigeria, Harry Purwanto, has said.
Purwanto, who spoke in Abuja yesterday after he was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the execution was carried out strictly after completion of all legal proceedings.
Jamiu Owolabi Abashin, 50; Martin Anderson, 50; Okwudili Oyatanze, 41; and Sylvester Obiekwe Nwolise, 47, were executed on Tuesday in Indonesia for drug related offenses.
Speaking to reporters after meeting with the ministry top officials, Purwanto explained that there was nothing that could be done to save the four as the court had ruled over the case and there was nothing the government could have done at that stage.
 “There was nothing we could do for those four Nigerians because every legal process was completed and only then did the government of Indonesia implement the decision of the court.”
  He said necessary opportunity was provided to the convicts for the last 10 years the case lasted, adding that his government suspended the moratorium on death penalty due to the gravity and dangerous impact of the drugs on their country.
In his reaction, the Under-Secretary, Economic and Consular Affairs Department of the  Ministry, Ambassador Bokunolu Onemola, said the situation was not enough to instigate a row between both countries.
Onemola stressed that Nigeria would not recall its ambassador to Indonesia over the executions.

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